Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Lungcono uqweqwe lwesinkwa umuntu elokuthula kulendlu egcwele amagqibhagqibha okudla kodwa kulengxabano.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
Isisebenzi esihlakaniphileyo sizabusa indodana eyangisayo, sizakwabelwa ilifa njengomunye wamadodana.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.
Isiliva sincibilikiselwa embizeni, imvutho ngeyegolide kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Umuntu oxhwalileyo uyazilalela izindebe ezimbi; lomqambimanga uyalulalela ulimi olulomona.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Lowo ohleka umyanga weyisa uMenzi wakhe; oklolodayo nxa konakele kayikuphepha isijeziso.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
Abazukulu bangumqhele wabalupheleyo, njalo labantwana baziqhenya ngabazali babo.
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
Izindebe zokutshinga azisifanelanga isiwula zimbi kangakanani ke izindebe zamanga kumbusi!
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
Isivalamlomo siyintelezi kulowo osinikayo; uyaphumelela kukho konke.
9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
Ofihla ukona komunye uqinisa uthando, kodwa okhuluma ngakho kokuphela wehlukanisa abangane abasekhwapheni.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
Ukukhuza kuyamqondisa umuntu olengqondo kulokutshaya isiwula imvimvinya ezilikhulu.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Umuntu omubi udinga ukuhlamuka kuphela; uzathunyelwa inxusa elilesihluku.
12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Kungcono ukuqondana lebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo kulokuhlangana lesiwula ebuthutheni baso.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Nxa umuntu ephindisela okuhle ngobubi, ububi kabusoze basuka endlini yakhe.
14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Ukusungula inkani kunjengokubhidliza umduli wedamu; ngakho yekela indaba ingakadaleki inkani.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Ukukhulula olecala lokugweba omsulwa uThixo uyakuzonda kokubili.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Isizani imali esandleni sesiwula, sivele singatshisekeli ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha?
17 A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
Umngane ulothando ngezikhathi zonke, lomzalwane uzalelwa izikhathi zenhlupheko.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
Umuntu ongananzeleliyo uyaziwisela anike isibambiso enceda umakhelwane wakhe.
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
Lowo othanda inkani uthanda isono; lowo owakha isango eliphakemeyo udinga ukubhidlizwa.
20 One who has a perverse heart does not find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
Umuntu olenhliziyo exhwalileyo kaphumeleli; lowo olimi lwakhe luyakhohlisa uwela ekuhluphekeni.
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
Ukuba lendodana eyisiwula kuthelela usizi; akulakuthokoza kuyise wesiwula.
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Inhliziyo ethokozayo ingumuthi omuhle, kodwa umoya owephukileyo womisa amathambo.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Umuntu omubi wamukela isivalamlomo ensitha ukuze ahlanekele indlela yokwahlulela.
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Umuntu ohluzisisayo izinto ukhokhelwa yikuhlakanipha, kodwa amehlo esiwula asabalala afike ekucineni komhlaba.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Indodana eyisiwula ithelela uyise usizi lokudabuka kulowo owayizalayo.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Kakukuhle ukujezisa umuntu ongelacala, loba ukufaka uswazi izisebenzi ngenxa yobuqotho bazo.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
Umuntu ololwazi ubeka amazwi akhe ngokunanzelela, njalo umuntu oqedisisayo kathukutheli ngokuphangisa.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Lesiwula kuthiwa sihlakaniphile nxa sithule, kuthiwe siyaqedisisa nxa sibamba ulimi lwaso.
